Great Lakes Fishery Commission

Updated 2026-08-20 20:44:17

Lake Erie-2021-2025 -> 1.0 Intensively Managed Species -> Walleye Population and Fisheries

Maintain walleye populations with sustainable levels of adult biomass and fisheries harvest consistent with the walleye management plan

Walleye (Sander vitreus) are a relatively long-lived species, commonly reaching 15-20+ years old. Walleye population status is typically driven by periodic strong year classes and fluctuates accordingly. The Lake Erie Fish Community Objective for walleye is to maintain populations that support sustainable commercial and sport fisheries (Francis et al. 2020). To achieve this objective, a Lake Erie Walleye Management Plan was developed by the Lake Erie Committee in consultation with the Lake Erie Percid Management Advisory Group (LEPMAG). The Plan establishes objectives for population and fishery sustainability and quality based on historic population status and fishery performance (Hartman et al. 2024). The population is considered sustainable if there are enough adults to support stable recruitment and long-term fisheries.

Lake Erie’s walleye fishery is one of the most intensively managed freshwater fisheries in the world and is one of only two (along with Lake Erie’s yellow perch fishery) Great Lakes fisheries that meet the Marine Stewardship Council’s sustainability certification. Walleye are assessed annually using population models that incorporate fishery and agency data to estimate population size and sustainable harvest levels. If the adult population falls below a level of abundance known as the limit reference point, management interventions in the form of harvest reductions are triggered. During the 2021-2025 reporting period, adult walleye biomass was above the limit reference point for all five years and remained stable during this period, indicating that the fishery remains sustainable (Figure 1). Lake Erie’s walleye population continued to produce strong hatches in four of five years during this reporting period (Figure 2), which helped to maintain a period of high adult abundance and fueled thriving commercial and sport fisheries throughout Lake Erie.

Sport harvest rate, measured as the number of walleye harvested per hour of fishing effort (fish/hr), is a measure of the quality of the sport fishery. A target harvest rate of at least 0.4 fish/hr was established after consultation with the LEPMAG. This means that, on average, an angler should harvest at least 1 walleye for every 2.5 hours spent fishing. The sport harvest rate increased to record levels during the reporting period (0.95 fish/hr in 2025) and was above the target harvest rate during 2021-2025 (Figure 3).

Consistent walleye harvest levels are important to the economic sustainability of Ontario’s commercial fishery as well as its markets (i.e., fish processors, retailers, restaurants, and patrons). In consultation with the LEPMAG, a management target of at least 4.0 million pounds of walleye harvest was established. The commercial harvest increased during the current reporting period relative to the previous reporting period and exceeded the target each year, averaging 12.3 million pounds (Figure 4).  

Figure 1. Adult biomass (millions of kgs) of walleye in Lake Erie relative to the limit reference point, 1978-2025. The population is considered sustainable if the adult biomass is above the limit reference point.

Figure 2. Abundance (fish/ha) of age-0 walleye caught in interagency trawls in the west basin of Lake Erie relative to the average, 1988-2025.

Figure 3. Sport harvest rate (fish/hr) of walleye in Lake Erie relative to the management target harvest rate of at least 0.4 fish/hr, 1978-2025.

Figure 4. Commercial harvest (millions of lbs) of walleye in Lake Erie relative to the management target of at least 4.0 million pounds, 1978-2025.